A couple of days later Alexandra and Antoine were on their way back to the South on a train that was unlike any train Alexandra had ever been on.
‘Golly,’ she said to Antoine, in English. ‘I’ve travelled first class from time to time but I’ve never been on a train where it’s all first class. And pale pink carpets and upholstery! So de luxe!’
Antoine smiled at her. ‘It doesn’t go to Saint-Jean-du-Roc but Maxime is meeting us so we don’t have to change trains. He agreed with me, everyone deserves to travel this way sometimes.’
‘It’s lovely. Thank you.’
As she settled into her pink seat with her feet on the pink carpet she reflected how different this journey was from last autumn, when she first travelled to the chateau. Then she had been travelling to a strange place, to do a job she had no qualifications for, all for a man she had barely glimpsed. Now she was travelling at speed through France on a luxurious train with the man of her dreams, who just happened to be the man of her dreams when she had met him all those months ago.
Although it hadn’t been very long since she’d left Provence for Paris, when Alexandra saw Maxime waiting for them next to a very smart car she hadn’t seen before, she felt as if she’d been away for a lifetime.
‘Maxime!’ she said and went into his arms. He felt like a long-lost brother.
‘Alexandra! Antoine! How could you tear yourselves away from Paris?’
‘Me?’ Antoine said. ‘I’d have stayed far longer, but this girl was determined we had to get back.’
‘I wanted to come home,’ she said simply.
Maxime nodded.
Alexandra grew more and more excited as they neared the chateau, but when they arrived and she was out of the car, she put her fingers to her lips. ‘I want to surprise them,’ she whispered.
They tiptoed into the hall and Alexandra realised that the door to the kitchen must be shut or Milou would certainly have come out. Antoine opened the kitchen door so quietly no one heard. And then, suddenly, Stéphie looked up, Milou barked and one of the kittens ran up Alexandra’s coat to her shoulder.
‘You’re here!’ said Stéphie, getting out of her chair and rushing towards them all.
‘Lexi!’ said David, who was nearer, and pulled her into an enormous hug.
‘Papa!’ said Félicité and hugged him.
Henri came over and gave Alexandra an awkward embrace that touched her heart. Then Félicité joined in. ‘Are you engaged?’ she asked. ‘Can I see your ring?’
The ring was inspected and admired by everyone while David tried to get everyone to sit down.
‘When did you last eat? Are you hungry? There’s soup, or bread and cheese. We’ve got plenty of eggs if you want an omelette?’
‘Shall we open champagne, Antoine?’ Maxime asked.
‘I’d just prefer a glass of rosé, from the demijohn,’ said Alexandra. ‘Then I’ll know I’m home.’
‘So,’ said Stéphie when everyone was seated and eating, drinking or both. ‘When are you going to get married?’
‘We haven’t discussed it yet,’ said Alexandra. ‘Quite soon, I hope.’
‘Can I be a bridesmaid?’ asked Stéphie.
‘Of course, but it won’t be a large wedding, I don’t think,’ said Alexandra diffidently. ‘Just close family.’
‘Why?’ demanded Antoine. ‘I think we should invite everyone we know. I want the world to see how proud I am of my beautiful bride, and how much I love her!’
‘You will have to invite your cousins from Switzerland,’ said Maxime. ‘We could use Hubert’s beautiful car to drive you about.’
‘And you can’t get married without Lizzie and Meg from England. It wouldn’t be legal,’ said David. ‘Perhaps they could stay and help you get ready?’
Alexandra began to laugh. ‘I did telephone Lizzie from Donna’s when we first got engaged and although she didn’t say anything I know she’d be disappointed not to come and stay for a bit. I asked her to tell Meg, too. Is that all right, Antoine?’
‘Of course. As long as you can put up with my starchy relations, you can invite as many of your friends as you like. In fact, it’s a good idea, it will dilute the formality of my family.’ He paused. ‘We must keep room for your family too, chérie.’
